It was Garry Shandling’s birthday the other day. He would have been 73.
Comedy fans have the same reverence for Shandling’s The Larry Sanders Show that cinephiles have for Citizen Kane. It was probably the greatest ever - and a north star for so much of what came after it. That’s why, when Shandling passed away in 2016, the best comedians in the world turned out to mourn him. Adam Sandler sung a song, Jeffrey Tambour performed a sketch, Judd Apatow organized the event, and Sarah Silverman, Conan O'Brien, Jimmy Kimmel, Albert Brooks, Billy Crystal and so many other legends paid their respects.
“He was my mentor, my friend, support system, my family,” said Silverman. “He was a caregiver. The most generous man I knew. Generous with his knowledge, with his mind—all the things he learned the hard way, he offered to me wrapped up in a bow.”
To illustrate Silverman’s point, check out this extraordinary story from screenwriter Ed Solomon (Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure, Men in Black). It shows Garry’s generosity, the lengths he was willing to go to for a joke, and his lack of need to ever see if the joke landed. He was on another level. We shall not look upon his like again.
Beautiful story.
Excellent